Court Sides With Sweeney

Jim Long, attorney for Democratic 20th CD candidate Kirsten Gillibrand, wrote in to say state Supreme Court Justice Stephen A. Ferradino (elected as a Republican-Conservative) sided with U.S. Rep. John Sweeney, R-Clifton Park, today in the battle over the Independence Party line.

The upshot: Sweeney’s on Row C, Gillibrand’s off, which meansÂ there will be no early face-off between the two.Â

Sweeney now has three lines for the general – R, C and I – while she has two – D and WFP. Â

I don’t yet have a copy of the decision, which Gillibrand’s campaign says she’s unlikely to appeal. Â

(UPDATE: Moments after I posted, the Sweeney campaign sent out a press release declaring victory and calling this an “overwhelming loss” for Gillibrand.

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Michael McNulty, D-Green Island, and National Federation of Federal Employees President Rick Brown and a host of representatives from various labor unions are scheduled to join Gillibrand at noon tomorrow at McIntyre’s Restaurant in Watervliet to announce a host of labor endorsements.